Salt Springs, Ocala National Forest

As a general principle, I hate dirt.  I don't ride 4-wheelers; I don't go "mudding;" I don't walk barefoot if the ground is dirt.  (Beach sand and grass are different--they're clean.) With that said, the idea of camping has always turned me off.  I don't like feeling dirty.  I can't stomach the idea of bath houses and port-o-potty type facilities.  There's just something gross about all of it.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not a girly-girl; I'm not a prima donna; I'm certainly not a "princess." Simply put, I don't feel clean when I camp and I don't get clean in showers that other people have used (and done who knows what in!).

On the flip side, I do like sitting by a fire pit in the evening with a glass of wine or beer.  I love sleeping in a tent, listening to the crickets and frogs. However, I can't have ambiance without dirt, so camping just isn't for me.

Buying a Camper

After being rained out (flooded would be more like it) of our Fort DeSoto camping weekend, we began discussing a pop up camper.  After looking at a used one on Craigslist, we stopped in at a Camping World just to see what a new pop up would cost.  During my quick trip to the ladies' room, Jeremy & the saleswoman hit on the small travel trailer idea.  You know me...immediate answer, "NO."  We don't have the space for a travel trailer, and I'm certainly NOT going to pay that much for a toy.  Two hours later, we'd decided to buy a Coleman 15' travel trailer.  Between the cost, amenities (no dirt, AC, my own bathroom and shower) and the promise to buy me an outdoor carpet, we decided it might be a great way to travel with the kids and dogs. 

Let's Go Camping

Less than a week after buying our new travel-trailer toy, we set out on our first camping trip to Salt Springs in the Ocala National Forest.  I've lived in Florida my ENTIRE life, and I've NEVER heard of this place...and for good reason.  They don't even have cell service...or a stop light...or a McDonald's...or anything else that signifies civilization.  Oh well...

After a three hour drive up, we arrived and were set up in less than 10 minutes.  (Tent camping always took nearly an hour...hauling stuff from the car, laying out the tent, setting up the tent, prepping an area to cook, airing up mattresses, putting sheets on...uugghhh.) I was able to grill chicken outside and steam veggies on my stove.  We ate, were able to wash dishes in a sink, and were sitting by a fire before dark.  So far...not so bad!

The Springs

The initial reason we chose the national forest was for the kayaking and the springs.  Once we got to the campground and spring area, we abandoned the idea of kayaking and decided to play in the springs all day.  Salt Springs in one word...WOW!  Absolutely Beautiful! (ok...so that was three words)  We walked from our campsite to the springs.  The swimming area opened at 8am, and even when we got there around 9am, there were only a handful of families.  We attempted getting in to just swim around and float, but at 70 degrees, it was a bit chilly.  Luckily, the camp store sold tubes, and at $19 each, it was still worth it.  We floated around the swimming area/springs

all day.  We left around 1pm to get some lunch, but came back immediately and floated until nearly 4:30pm.  Honestly, we were thirsty, and since beer is only allowed at your campsite, we called it a day.  Even at the peak of the day, there were less than 50 people swimming in the springs.  A half dozen boats were anchored at the entrance to the spring area, but they stayed on the other side of the buoyed ropes. One of the boat captains played music all day, which made the entire day feel like a party.

Two deer and a BEAR!

After dinner our second night, we decided to walk back down to the springs to take pictures and check it out at sunset.  Again...absolutely beautiful!  It feels and looks like a secluded, secret pond.  We walked around the spring area for just a few minutes before another couple alerted us to a bear in the picnic area beside us.  I was thrilled to see the bear, but he wasn't as thrilled at my excitement and he ran off...bummer!  On the walk back to the campground, we came across two deer--a young buck and a fawn.  We took a side trip to the over flow parking lot.  Unknown to my dear husband, I was still looking for the bear...and I found him.  However, this time, we heard him in the bushes and he ran out near us.  Jeremy quickly recited the "Bear Beware" pamphlet to me, and we decided that where there is a young bear, his mother may not be too far behind, so we sped up our trip back to the campsite.

All in All

First of all, my opinion of camping has changed.  With the amenities and comforts of a travel trailer, it's not so bad.  In fact, we're planning another trip this weekend.  

Second, Salt Springs is a definite encore trip.  The entire time we floated around the springs, I thought about the boys swimming & snorkeling.  As it is now, we're planning on Spring Break.  We can walk to the springs, float as long as we want, walk back to the campsite, and disconnect.  Remember, when I said no cell service?  Yep...none!  No Wifi either.  If you want to use Wifi, you can walk to the camp store/ranger station, but other than that, you can hang up communicating with the outside world.  Over the entire weekend, I picked up service once and it lasted all of 10 seconds.  There is either no service or AT&T hasn't heard of Salt Springs yet.

Saving Money This Summer

As a native Floridian, and moreover, the daughter of penny-pinching parents, who made Scrooge look like Donald Trump, I've grown up learning how to save money in Florida.  As an adult, I've fine-tuned my deal sniffing, and now, can proudly say that I can find some of the best travel deals on the market.

Travelling in Florida can get expensive, and travelling in Central Florida can break the bank.  Most of us have heard that two of Orlando's major attractions just hit the $100/day threshold.  For a family of four, with hotels and food, that's an insane amount of money for ONE day!  No, I prefer to travel a bit differently; my kids never realize their travelling on a budget, but my husband (and his wallet) certainly appreciates my deal-finding skills.

Like I said, I'm a native Floridian, and over my 40+ years in Central Florida, I've found attractions and vacation ideas that are often just outside the radar of many visitors, so consider the following...

Florida Vacation Auction

I stumbled on this one about five years ago.  The company, based in Fort Myers, auctions hotel stays and attraction tickets from destinations across the state, in exchange for advertising.  In other words, the hotel gives FL Vacation Auction a multi-night stay in exchange for advertising.  I'm not sure what other legal mumbo-jumbo might be involved, but I really don't care, as long as I get the deal.

Tips for using Florida Vacation Auction:

1) Read the fine print.  Some hotel stays are only valid on certain days of the week.  Likewise, so tickets and hotel stays have expiration dates.  If you're purchasing them for use during WFC, make sure the expiration date is after November 10, 2015.

2) Set up your account early.  Setting up your account takes a little time, and you don't want to lose out on an auction because you waited.

3) Set reminders.  Florida Vacation Auction allows guests to "watch" the price of an auction, and will send you an email on Sunday to remind you that the auction is ending that night.

4) Swoop in & Steal. Don't bid until the last 15 minutes.  Auctions end every Sunday night at 10pm.  Log in, go to the auction you want, and wait.  In the last 15 minutes, enter your maximum bid; the system will only increase in $5 increments, so if you bid $20 over the current bid, it won't allow someone else to bid unless they out bid you.  Likewise, if there are no current bids, the auction will show an "opening bid" price, which means you could pick it up for the bare minimum.

Groupon & Living Social

By now, many people have discovered both deal websites and have probably purchased a "voucher" for something.

1) Check Out the "Getaways" and "Hotel" Features. Many people don't know is that both deal sites offer hotel stays in Kissimmee, Orlando, and throughout Central Florida.  Some are for single nights, and can be grouped for multi-night stays, and others are for week long stays.  The really cool thing is that both sites have deals for the Kissimmee area that are valid through November 2015, so purchasing and booking now can save you lots of $$ as hotel rooms begin to fill and are at a premium.

2) Try a New Restaurant. If you've never been to the metro Orlando area, you have no idea just how many restaurants there are.  Due to the sheer number of restaurants in Kissimmee-Orlando, there's a ton of competition, and many restaurant owners are using Groupon and Living Social to attract new customers.

3) Take a Break.  Competing is hard work, so why not take a break while in town.  Groupon and Living Social both offer huge discount vouchers for massages, golf packages, movies, skydiving, and even hot air balloon rides.

4) Don't Forget the Kids.  Your kids don't have to go to the theme parks to have a great time while in Florida.  Both Groupon and Living Social offer kid-themed vouchers for indoor trampoline centers, indoor skydiving, movies, go-kart racing, mini-golf, zoos, aquariums, dinner theaters, and just about anything else you can imagine.

4) Set Up a Profile and City Notifications.  You may not live in Orlando or Tampa, but you can certainly get notifications for specific types of deals in the area.  When you set up your account on both sites, you will start getting email notifications of deals that match your preferred city.  You will get plenty of emails, and you never know when something really cool comes up, so don't get in the habit of absentmindedly deleting them before reading.

Vacation Rentals By Owner(VRBO)

This site has been around for years, and it keeps getting better.  The Central Florida area is HUGE for rental properties and time shares.  If you need more space and options than what a hotel can offer, consider renting a whole house, condo, or apartment.  If you break it down by the number of rooms you would need for your family/team and the price per night, you'll probably find that a rental is cheaper.  Likewise, private pools, hot tubs, and room to spread out is always nice on a vacation.

Air BnB

Here's my new fav!  We tested it this summer on our bike ride of the Outer Banks, and I can't stop singing the praises of it.  The concept is simple.  Owners rent out their entire home or just a bedroom in their home, offer breakfast, and huge savings.  On Air BnB, you can find everything from single rooms, single family homes, castles, lighthouses, campers, and even sailboats.

Tips for using AirBnB:

1) Market Yourself.  Air BnB hosts have the right to refuse a rental, so you need to make yourself look good.  When you set up your profile, use a picture that portrays you as honest, fun, and trustworthy, and write a bio that tells hosts who you are and what you do.

2) Check the Reviews.  Every AirBnB host has a review listing, % responses, and % approvals.  AirBnB travelers are typically candid and honest in their reviews.  If the host has been less than wonderful, you need to know before you book.

3) Read the Fine Print.  AirBnB hosts can charge extra for cleaning and pets, so know before you book. Likewise, hosts can stipulate the gender of guests, whether or not they allow children, and whether or not they have pets in the home.

4) Be Open.  If you decide to use AirBnB, you have to be open to all sorts of possibilities.  You are not in a hotel with a staff.  You are in someone's home with them.  You may or may not see your host.  Your host may or may not want to hang out & chat.  In the end, you may meet some really neat people along the journey.

Destination: Fort DeSoto

Located at the very southern end of Tampa Bay, Fort DeSoto is actually a county park operated by Pinellas County.  I’ve been camping at Ft DeSoto since I was a child.  The most vivid memories I have of Ft DeSoto involve insanely talented racoons, hunting rabbits Elmer Fudd-style, and swinging on the playground.  Now that I’m an adult, fun at Ft DeSoto is slightly different.  There are still racoons, and I’m sure they are just as skilled at opening coolers and Tupperware.  The playground is still there, as are the rabbits, but now, we kayak, tour the old fort, swim at the beach, and venture into St. Pete for goodies.  The kids love the adventure; we love the quiet; it’s unbelievably affordable (averaging $35-$40/night for a camper/RV)…a win-win-win!

Our Suggestions:

1)  Make reservations early OR go online at 7am on Friday morning to get a spot.  The campground reserves a certain number of sites for “walk up” visitors—a throw-back policy from the early days of the park.

2)  Make plans to visit the fort.  It’s free with admission to the park or camping.  The view from the top deck is fabulous.  You can see out to Fort Dade (aka Egmont Key), all the way to Manatee County (Anna Maria Island to the south), and over to the Skyway Bridge.

3) Check out the beaches…they are BEAUTIFUL. Tripadvisor rates it 4 ½ stars out of 5 for good reason.

4) Stop in at the Bayway Country Store and Butcher Shoppe before turning onto the island.  HUGE selection of gourmet goodies, fresh seafood, homemade sausages & fish dips, and a meat selection that is second to none!

5) Visit the local breweries.  All are kid/family friendly, so don’t shy away.  3 Daughters, Cycle, Green Bench, and Mad Beach Brewing are all within a few minutes-drive, so head in to “town” for the evening.

6) Check out St. Pete Beach.  Yes, the beach is nice, but I’m talking more about the town.  There’s still a 1960s vibe of old-school motels and kitschy shops along the beach.  Very cool stuff and GREAT eats too!  Larry’s Ice Cream is a MUST! Be prepared to wait…there’s always a line.